England vs Sri Lanka: ODI Series Begins in Colombo

England return to the grind of 50-over cricket in Colombo this week, carrying the weight of an Ashes defeat and the expectation that comes with their white-ball pedigree.

Sri Lanka, bruised but unbowed after a drawn T20I series against Pakistan, await them at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. The first ODI of the three-match series begins on January 22, a fresh chapter for two sides who know their recent one-day form has not been good enough.

Both teams arrive with something to fix. England are still nursing the scars of a 2-1 Ashes loss to Australia in 2025-26 and must quickly rediscover their sharpness in the 50-over format. Sri Lanka, beaten in their last ODI series by Pakistan, are trying to stitch together consistency in front of their own fans.

The stakes stretch beyond Colombo. With the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup heading to India and Sri Lanka, every ball in this series doubles as preparation. Combinations, roles, temperament under pressure — all of it will be under the microscope.

Where to watch in India

For fans in India, the contest drops neatly into the afternoon.

The first ODI at R. Premadasa in Colombo starts at 2:30 p.m. local time, which is 2:30 p.m. IST on Thursday, January 22.

The match will be shown live on TV via Sony Sports Network. Those following on mobile or laptop can stream the action on SonyLIV or FanCode, both available through app and website.

Three games, one intense Colombo setting, and two teams trying to realign their white-ball futures with a World Cup on the horizon.